Soil fumigating apparatus



Jan. 1, 1952 1.. D. FUNK 2,580,755

son. FUMIGATING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 12, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIII Im/entar Lewis 0. Funk By 2mm MW mm Jan. 1,1952 L, D. FUNK son FUMIGATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 12, 1947 Fig.4.

Inventor Lewis 0. Funk Jan. 1, 1952 Filed Dec. 12, 1947 L. D. FUNK SOIL FUMIGATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventar Lewis 0. Funk @Maaih WWW ma:

IIIIIIIIA'I I Patented Jan. 1, 1952 SOIL FUMIGATING APPARATUS I Lewis D. Funk, Whittier, Calif assignor 01 once half to PaulGreening, N orwalk, Calif.

Application December 12, 1941, SerialNo. 791,285

This invention relates to a pump or gun for applying a soil fumigant beneath the surface of the soil, for killing ground or insect pests as well as fungi and bacteria living in the soil, although it is to be understood that the same may be used with equal facility for applying liquid fertilizers, disinfectants and the like. V

The object of the invention is to provide a novel pump or gun to be operated by hand and foot power, for applying or forcing under pressure, the fumigant after the nozzle thereof has been forced into the soil, and to prevent clogging of the nozzle. v v I v Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and simple gun or pump of the character stated which is provided with handle bars by which the operator will grasp the same and force 7 the nozzle from which the ofumigant or other liquid qis-ejected into the soil, and upon operation thereof,- to force any desired or g ven quantit of the --fumigant or other liquid into the soil for the treatment thereof or for killing pests or the like as stated; r o

A.sti1l further object of the invention is to provide a gun or pump which will hold a container which may vary in size, in aninverted position .in-order todischarge the contents thereof into the pump or feeding mechanism by which the same is forced under pressure intothe soil, the device being especially constructed with reference to the adaptor .for holding jars of diiferents'izes which may be effectively clamped in positionto feed the liquid fumigant into the pump valve in order that it may be displaced and forced through a nozzle of the pump into the soil, and including a cookin disc which operates a spring loading device andrests on the top of the soil as-the nozzle is pushed about six inches into the soil, so that when the ,foot bar is operated, the pump is reciprocated so that the piston thereof, will force a measured quantity of the fumigant or otherliquid through the nozzle to spread into the soil for the purposes stated.

Other objects and advantages reside in the detail of construction and operation as morejfully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being-.1

had to' -the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. and in which;

Figure 1 is a .front elevation of a 'fumigant gun or pum constructed in accordance with the invention;

' Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device with the lower end thereof broken away;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the upper portion scams, (o1. 1117.4)

0f the dev c the opera n d sk being omitte Figure 4 is a detailed fragmentary elevation of the pumppiston;

Figure 5 isa top plan view .of the. tructur shown in Figure 4 Figure 6 is a bottom view of the lower end Of the pump piston;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the pump piston taken on the section line 'l--! of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is an enlarged view looking at the top of the nozzle; Figure 9 i a fra mentary sectional dowel- 9wing the nozzle attached to the 1ower end of the pump dy or tube; o

Figure 1.0 is a longitudinal sectional view of the pump taken on the line l0- -l0 of Figure 1; Figure. 11 is a sectional view takenion theline H-H ofFigure 10; I

Figure 12 is a top plan view oi the structure shown in Figure 10 showing the adaptor for the Jars of lfumigant liquid; v

Figure 13 is a per pective view of a release do employed in connection with the dev Figure .14 is a fragmentary side elevation showing an adjustable stop or ring on the bpdyor cylinder to regulate the amount of fluid to be .fed into and discharged by the pump, and;

Figure is a sectional view taken on the line I 15-15 of Figure 1.4. v 7

Referring to the drawings in detail, the pump or sun is shown as comprising a f e n uding a U-shaped upper tubular member I 0 in the form of a U or yoke having a cross handle or top brace ll across the top and connecting the upper ends thereof in the form of handlebars similar to a bicycle or motorcycle having the angularly bent ends l2 provided with hand grips I3. Intermediately, a clamping screw M is threaded through a sleeve 15 constituting a bearing therefor verti cally in the cross bar or brace H and provided with a knurled operating head IS. The lower end of the screw M has swivelled thereto as indicated at ii, a container .clam'p or spider 18 consisting of a channel bar orotherwise through which the lower unthreaded end of the screw 1M extends, as indicated at I}! and is provided with in Figure Band-is provided with a seat or recess 23 for taking a quart container jar .forthe film? 3 gant liquid or other suitable treating fluid as indicated at 24, and is further provided outwardly thereof with notches 25 at the bottom edges of the arms for taking a gallon bottle, jar or con tainer. In order to accommodate such bottles or jars at the adaptor 22 with the open end or neck thereof downwardly to empty the contents by gravity, the adaptor 22 is constructed as shown in Figure of the drawings and as also illustrated in plan in Figure 12, with a smaller seat 26 bearing a gasket 21 or other suitable packing against which the jar neck fits over the reduced upper portion of the adaptor indicated at 28 and which is tubular or open at the top to be closed by a cap plate or disc 29. The adaptor is of stepped formation or successively smaller in diameter toward the top and below the seator shoulder 26, is provided with a larger seat or shoulder 30 receiving a packing washer or gasket 3! to form a seal with the large mouth of a gallon container or jar which fits over the portion 29, the bottom '32 of the adaptor being welded or otherwise attached to the bight portion 2| of the handlebar yoke frame 10. An air vent tube 33 .extends through the lateral wall of the lower portion of the adaptor and up through the cap 29 .yertically through an aperture'in the latter, for 'p'ermitting air to enter the container, bottle or jaito displace the liquid therein, and this tube curves around the inside of the frame It) at one side thereof where it may be held by a clip 34 and extends to near the top oftheframe beneath the cross bar or handle bar l l above the top of the bottle or jar. Another tube or feeder line 35, also extends through an aperture or opening in "the capjor closure 29 and at its lower end,"isoffset laterallyjjto extend through the bottom '32 of the -adaptorat'one side of the frame It! at the'yoke portion bight 2i and along side a tubular body or 2 cylinder 36 secured centrally to the bight portion 2| as indicated in Figures 1 and 10, to near the ,bottom of the pump or gun, where itconnects to A an elbow 31 leading into the cylinder .13 through the medium of a coupling nipple 38. The tubu-.

,l ar, bodyor. cylinder 36 is provided with a pair of I'diametric'ally opposite slots 39 a considerable distance down on the same and is provided above the ,slo'twith a release collar, tapered bushing or sleeve'4'0, the lower edge of which is bevelled as ,shown at 4| so as to engage the bevelled top edges 42- of'release'dogs 43, which are pivoted at their lower ends as indicated at 44 to the upper end .Ipo'rtion45 of a frame or cage 46 having legs 41 connected at their lower ends to an operating or cocking disc in theform of a plate 48 adapted to Iengage the ground when the pump nozzle is forced into the same as will be later described. ,{The upper end ofthe frame 46 above the tubular portion 45v is provided with apertured ears 49 through whichthe release dogs 43 are pivoted as at 44 .and these dogs are provided with intermediate projections 50 extending inwardly providing {top seats adapted to engage beneath a shoulder -5.l provided at the lower end ofa piston head 52 {secured on apiston or sucker rod 53 or movable .thereon if desired and operating through a collar ".54. secured in the upper portion of the body or 'fcylinder 36 as, by'means of a set screw 55.. fit washer anda nut56 are mounted on the upper end of the piston rod'53 which as before stated operates through thesleeve orcollar 54, and a coilspring 51 is disposed around the pisto n rod 153 between thecollar 54 and the head 52, to

hold the latter downwardly. while permitting up- ,75

ward movement of the upper end of the piston rod ,5! is disposed to exert downward force on the index sleeve, which latter is provided with a plurality of annular recesses 59, 60 and BI in its periphery with right angled top shoulders 62 and bevelled lower ends 63 for measuring a given quantity or volume of fluid to be drawn into the cylinder and injected by the pump, the upper redesired quantity, the next groove or recess 60 being used for a vteaspoonful, and the lower recess 6| for two teaspoonsful of the fluid, although this maybe varied according to the capacity desired. It should therefore be noted that the lower recess 6| is spaced a greater distance from the oove 60 than the latter is from the groove or recess 59 and the index sleeve is secured in position by a set screw such as a socket head screw 64 along the piston or sucker rod 53, by which it ismade adjustable according to the volume of fluid to be discharged. An adjustable stop collar 65 is held by a set screw 66 which is adapted to engage any one of three holes 61 through the cylinder 36 at its lower portion beneath the sleeve portion 45 at the top of the frame 46, said adjustable stop limiting the upward movement of the cylinder or downward movement of the frame with respect Incidentally,- the index sleeve at the groove 59 at the point of tripping by thebevelled edge 4| engaging the bevelled edges 42 of the dogs 43. A spring 69 encircles the dogs 43 for holding the latter in contact'with the lift or index sleeve and into the grooves therein. A barrel I0 is threaded or otherwise coupled to the lower end of the cylinder 36 as indieated at II, and the cylinder also receives a threaded adjustment ring 12 to hold the connection in adjusted position and against movement with the cylinder 36 recessed or'extending into a recess in the upper end of the barrel (0, preferably with a packing gland I 0 having a graphiteso of the barrel 10 is a cylinder portion or extension asbestos packing 1|. Threaded in the lower end 13 in which a piston 14 of the pump of gun, which isof the injector type, is positioned. This piston or piston head as shown in Figures 4 to 7 inclusive, has a socketed adaptor 16 of reduced size at its upper end, and a groove H in which the screw 15 is adaptedto engage to couple thepiston head to the piston rod 53 at its lower end. Below thefadapterJB, is an annular flange 18 beneath which is a reduced portion 19 on which a suitable gasket or washer of compressible material is mounted, the lower end of the piston head being reduced as indicated at BI and provided with a transverse passage 82 at its lower portion to receive a retaining pin 83 running diametrically. A piston sleeve 84 fits loosely around the portion 8i beneath the gasket 86 and has a take suitable packing if desired. Below the flange annularly around the top of the sleeve 84, the sleeve is recessed interiorly as indicated at 88 to with the lower portion of the cylinder.

bottle or jar 24', down through the supply tube or feed line 35 on the suction stroke of the piston upwardly, at which time it is adapted to passout into the cylinder 73 through passages 9i at the enlarged lower recess or bore portion of the sleeve indicated at 92, which receives the end of the spring 99 and pin 63 where they project from the periphery of the portion 8| and communicate with the lower end of the sleeve, in comunication At the lower end of the cylinder 13, the latter carries a nozzle 93 counterbored and internally threaded at the top as indicated at '94 to engage the lower threaded end of the cylinder 13 with an interposed fibre washer 95 and a check disc or valve seat 96 beneath the same at the bottom of the counterbore having a central opening 91 for engagement by a spring ball check valve 98 held normally seated by a spring 99 in a reduced counterbore H30 in the lowered tapered portion l! of the nozzle 93. This nozzleis a clog-proofnozzle to prevent dirt collecting therein to interfere with the discharge of the liquid fumigant or other treating fluid, and is formed with a seat I02 at the bottom of the counterbore I00 with a reduced passage l03 having one or more lateral passages I04 constituting escape ducts leading through the narrow lower end of the tapered portion ll]! of the nozzle, below which the point or head is enlarged as indicated at I05 and also tapered to a point as indicated at 106 for easy insertion in the soil, preferably to a depth of about six inches for injection of the fluid thereinto. A foot bar I01 of angular form as shown in Figure 1, is attached to the sleeve or ring 12 to force the device and nozzle 93 into the soil until it engages the base plate or disk 48. The nozzle 93 continues to penetrate the ground or soil while the cooking disk remains stationary on the surface of the soil. The cocking disk is fastened by legs 41 to the dog cage 46 upon which are pivoted the diametrically opposed dogs 43. The spring about the dogs normally urges them into positive engagement with a preselected groove in the index sleeve 52 so that as the nozzle 93 continues downwardly, the dogs lift the sleeve 52 which is fastened to and raises the piston rod 53. The spring 57 in the cylinder 36 interposed between the stop collar 54 and the index sleeve is, accordingly, compressed on the upstroke of the index sleeve and associated piston 14 and rod 53. As the rod 53 is being raised, it lifts the piston 14 through a column of soil fumigant located in the cylinder l3 between the piston 14 and the packing II in barrel 78. On the upstroke, the soil fumigant bypasses the piston by virtue of the by-pass means provided thereon as shown clearly in Figure '7; This is accomplished in the following manner. As the piston '14 continues to rise, the soil fumigant passes between the piston washer 80 and the piston sleeve 84 which has dropped approximately one-sixteenth of an inch and rests on the retaining pin 83. This action between the piston sleeve 84 and piston 14 acts as a valve permitting the soil fumigant to pass from the upper section to 6 the lower section of cylinder 13 through piston sleeve 84. On reaching the top of the strokeand just before the dogs 43 are released, the piston spring 9t? closes the piston sleeve 84* against the-washer 80, sealing off the return of the the upper cylinder 13. v

At the top of the charging stroke, the nozzle 93 has penetrated to approximately six-inches soil "fumigant to belowthe cocking disk andat this point'the dogs 43 have contacted the'b'eveled or tapered sleeve bushing 40 which forces the dogs apart torelease the index sleeve 52. At this point, the coil spring "51 is compressed tightly between the'index sleeve 52 and the upper collar 54' When the index sleeve is released, therefore, the coil spring 5! forces the index sleeve downward. Accordingly,

the piston'lfi is forced downwardly helping to close the valve formed by the piston Washer and piston sleeve 84 which, in turn, compresses the soil fumigant located between the piston sleeve 84 and the valve seat 96. This dowrm ard movement forces the soil fumigant 'througnthe valve seat '96, past the ball check '98, past valve spring 99, through counterbore I-llfl, into lateral passages I84, and into the soil surrounding the nozzle 93. At this point, the nozzle 93 is removed from the soil, which causes the cocking disk 48,

- dog cage 45, and dogs #13 to drop downwardly and to rest on the stop collar '65. In this position} the above mentioned cycle maybe repeated for 'the next injection. Also, by adjustment of the index sleeve, the dogs 43 will be caused to engage any one-of the grooves 59, 60 and 6|, to vary the quantity of fluid injected into the soil as desired. Also, it is to be understood that any treating fluid may be used in the device and that the device is comparatively simple, light in weight and easily handled by a single person. In renewing the containers or bottles 24, all that is necessary is to unscrew the clamp and to insert a new jar or bottle in the adaptor 22, for continued use of the device with a new supply.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of this invention it is to be understood that minor changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An apparatus for injecting a fluid into the ground comprising aligned upper and lower cylinders, a nozzle on the lower end of said lower cylinder adapted to be inserted downwardly into the ground, a frame movably embracing said cylinders and having a part adapted to engage the ground and hold the frame stationary with respect to the ground when said nozzle has been inserted into the ground a predetermined amount, further insertion of said nozzle serving to provide relative movement in one direction between said frame and cylinders, an axially movable piston rod extending into both said cylinders, a collar secured in said upper cylinder and slidably receiving the upper end of said piston rod, a piston secured to the lower end of said piston rod and slidable within said lower cylinder, an index sleeve having spaced annular grooves secured to said piston rod, a spring interposed between said collar and said sleeve normally urging said sleeve and piston downwardly, locking dogs each having a free upper end and a lower end pivoted to said frame, resilient means normally urging said dogs 7 into lockingengagement with one of said grooves, conduit means for feeding fluid to the upper portion of said lower cylinder, means permitting flow of fluid through said piston to the lower portion of said lower cylinder upon movement of said piston with said sleeve and frame in said one direction, and means carried by said upper cylinder .unlocking said dogs after a predetermined amount of movement in said one direction to free said sleeve and piston, whereby said piston is urged downwardly by'said spring to force fluid through said nozzle.

2. --An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for unlocking said dogs includes a collar secured to said upper cylinder, said collar having a lower beveled edge which engages the upper ends of said dogs to pivot them outwardly.

3. An appaartus for injecting fluid into the ground comprising a cylinder having a lower end-adapted to beinserted downwardly into the .ground, a piston rod axially movable in said cylin der, a piston secured to said rod and slidable in -.said cylinder, an index sleeve having spaced annular grooves secured to said rod, resilient means normally urging said sleeve and piston downw ardly, a frame movably embracing said cylinder, locking dogs each having a free upper end and -a lower end pivoted to said frame, resilient means normally urging said dogs into locking 8 sleeve and piston against the urging action of said first-mentioned resilient means, and means unlocking said dogs after a predetermined amount of movement in said one direction to free said sleeve and piston for urging action downwardly by said first-mentioned resilient means.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said first-mentioned resilient means includes a collar fixed in said cylinder and a spring interposed between said collar and said index sleeve.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for unlocking said dogs includes a collar secured to said cylinder, said last-mentioned collar having a lower beveled edge which engages the upper ends of said dogs. l

LEWIS D. FUNK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the die of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,120,065 Larson Dec. 8, 1914 2,435,647 Engseth Feb. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 42,710 Denmark Aug. 4, 1930 58,220 Norway July 26, 1937 73,011 1 Austria Jan. 25, 1917 96,554 Austria Apr. 10, 1924 

